02-03-2003 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

ROAD ADVISORY COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 3, 2003--1:35 PM MEETING TO ORDER Commissioner Robyn Sorum called to order a meeting of the Road Advisory Committee at 1:35 PM, Monday, February 3, 2003, in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse. The following members were present: Vern Bennett, Robyn $orum, Keith Berndt, Rich Sieg, and Jurgen Suhr. Darrell Vanyo and Scott Wagner arrived later in the meeting. John Meyer, Dennis Rust and Mark Johnson were absent. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP BRIDGE, Bids received; County Engineer authorized to proceed with construction Mr. Berndt said the committee decided to have the County Engineer solicit bids for a bridge project in Pleasant Township at their meeting held on October 7, 2002. The bridge was destroyed by fire in 2001. The property owner and his insurance company have committed to contributing $150,000 toward the installation of a new bridge. Bridge design and bid packages were prepared after that meeting. Two separate bids were requested for the drive piling and for the laminated wood deck. The County Highway Department has existing used steel beams that will be installed with a new wood panel deck. The bid deadline was January 23rd. The drive piling Iow bid was $66,690 and deck Iow bid was $98,208 for a total of $164,898. The recommendation made in October was to proceed if the total cost was between $225,000 and $250,000. There will be some contracted crane time, contracted excavation and county labor to install the deck and other incidental work, but Mr. Berndt feels the cost will be within the recommended range. MOTION, passed Mr. Bennett moved and Mrs. Sorum seconded to authorize that the County Engineer proceed with construction of a new bridge between Sections 10 and 15 of Pleasant Township contingent upon receipt of $150,000 in private contributions toward the project. Discussion: Mr. Wagner asked why this project was unique and Mr. Berndt said the private contributions make this request unique. Mr. Wagner is concerned that since this is a Iow volume bridge and the county has limited budget resources, he questions whether the county should fund this project. At the call for the question and on roll call vote, the motion carried with five members voting "Aye" and Mr. Wagner voting "No." LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT TO COUNTY 17, Commission chairman authorized to sign letter to North Dakota Department of Transportation Mr. Berndt said a letter was received from the North Dakota Department of Transportation regarding potential demonstration projects for the new federal highway bill. The letter asked counties that are interested to provide information to the department by February 14th. He is requesting the county send a letter asking for demonstration project funding to complete long-term improvements to Cass County Highway 17 from West Fargo to Horace. The odds of receiving any funding are slim; however, he feels we should at least make an attempt. The total estimated cost of $26 million would be for improvements over the six-mile stretch. He said if the county receives funding at a lesser amount, the road could be repaired in installments of two or three-mile portions. The letter would commit the county to fund 20% of the project and if funding is approved, the county could ask Fargo and West Fargo for assistance.